When I wrote it, I knew what I meant…
“As I’ve stated, I’ve done local newsletters before to keep people in my precinct informed about Central Committee happenings and will do more of that after I’m sworn in. Fortunately monoblogue can cover all of Wicomico County, no more hand delivery! I found out on Thursday night that I’ll officially be sworn in during the fall Maryland Republican Party convention in Annapolis on December 2nd.”
However, after the Central Committee meeting on Monday, there were a couple people (who shall remain nameless) that pointed out a couple comments I’d made here and it placed me on the defensive. But if you are a regular reader of monoblogue, you’ll notice that I will post monthly on Republican Club meetings but I do not post on Central Committee meetings. This is intentional because there’s sensitive discussions that happen there at times which have to do with overall GOP campaign strategy and I’d like to keep that stuff close to my vest.
On the other hand, WCRC meetings have a much more public face. It was stated to me by these same people that they thought it would be better to have people pay for their membership if they want to find out what’s happening with the WCRC. But I disagree because I believe my efforts would encourage membership in the long run. Yes, I give what most people who were there tell me is a very faithful rehashing of the events and speakers that grace our meetings, but the only way to enjoy the fellowship and meet the speakers is to actually attend the meetings – then sooner or later the membership dues will come in. If no one hears about the meetings, you’re not going to get a lot of people showing up. I realize this is an election year, but could it be possible that the coverage I give on monoblogue may have convinced a few extra bodies to make the effort to attend these meetings, and just possibly chip in a couple more dollars to the kitty?
I thought the best way to explain my philosophy was to use examples from my past so I went and dug out the newsletters I did during the two years of my elected term to the Lucas County Republican Central Committee (1998 to 2000). On an occasional basis, I would write up and distribute a two or four page newsletter to anywhere from 50 to 80 people in my precinct – in total I did eight editions of the newsletter I called the 16-P Leader (named for my 16th Ward and Precinct P).
This is one example of my Central Committee reporting, from the very first edition in 1998:
Talmage, Griswold picked by GOP
On June 13, at a sometimes acrimonious reorganization meeting, Dee Talmage and Mike Griswold were elected to run the Lucas County Republican Party Executive Committee and Central Committee, respectively.
Mrs. Talmage will now replace James Brennan at the helm of the local party and take over the daily operations. She was selected by a unanimous vote of the Central Committee, after interviewing with a selection committee made up of local GOP leaders. The selection committee selected her over Sylvania Township trustee Dock Treece and Senate District 2 State Central Committeman Paul Hoag.
At the same meeting, Mike Griswold was selected to head up the party’s Central Committee (the body you elected me to) by a 145 to 77 margin over 21st Ward Chair Susan Abood. Our 16th Ward went 12 to 1 in favor of Mr. Griswold, myself being the lone Abood holdout (I seconded her nomination as well). I felt that Mrs. Abood would help steer the party in a new direction away from the “old guard”.
Speaking of the 16th Ward, we elected a new ward chair in the person of Tim Kuhlman, who replaces William Outland. Mr. Outland was defeated in his precinct reelection bid.
Also of note: on May 5th, we elected Chuck Larkins to represent the 11th Senate District Republicans on the State Central Committee, replacing longtime incumbent James Brennan. Donna Owens was unopposed for her seat.
I also had articles in this newsletter introducing myself to the voters, our precinct’s results from the previous fall’s local election, a candidate focus on the Republican who was running for State Senate from our district, a short note about the state income tax deductability of political contributions, an appeal for volunteers, and fundraiser news for GOP candidates. Honestly, I should take some time and scan all these newsletters as background files because in rereading them last night, I could tell that people would see the obvious seeds of monoblogue being planted in these newsletters.
What’s most important to note is that the Executive Committee of the LCRP has much the same function as the Wicomico County Central Committee does. It’s a much smaller body made up of ward chairs and they make the decisions about candidate endorsement and appointment. The Central Committee people (also called precinct chairs) ratify the decisions made by the Executive Committee and work their respective precincts to increase GOP turnout and registration (which was my task and one thing I managed to accomplish in my 2 year term). My newsletter was one effort in trying to get people more politically involved – in later editions I added items on neighborhood issues such as the local Block Watch and a grassroots effort to redistrict City Council.
This website is an extension of the purpose behind my precinct newsletter, with monoblogue I can update on all the issues I care about and I can do it a lot more frequently. My goal on being elected to the Wicomico County version of the Republican Central Commitee (as stated before) is to make the Republican Party the majority party in Wicomico County and involve more people, particularly young adults, in the political process. Since more and more people get news from the internet, this is the perfect place for giving out the facts about the Wicomico County GOP and enhancing it with my “wonkish” conservative commentary.
The time for cynicism is over. I share many of the same goals as the rest of the Central Committee – getting good Republican candidates and helping them win their elections at all levels. Because one particular GOP candidate has a problem with certain “cancerous” local blogs, it’s no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater. The Wicomico County GOP didn’t have too many problems with the blogs prior to September 13 and the party will have to deal with them, like it or not, after November 7. I’m hoping the WCRCC can work with and learn from the conservative side of the local blog world, the possiblility of being an outstanding amplifier of our message is there if we learn how to work with those involved.
